Five storylines to follow in second half of MLB season

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One year after he delivered baseball’s first triple crown since 1967, Detroit Tigers third baseman Miguel Cabrera is threatening to accomplish the feat again.

Standing in his way is the other big story of the American League: Orioles slugger Chris Davis, who is on pace for 63 homers.

They will be just two of baseball’s stories to watch after the All-Star break:

Can Cabrera pull off double triple crown?

Miguel Cabrera led the American League with a .330 batting average, 44 home runs and 139 RBIs last season to win baseball’s first triple crown since Boston’s Carl Yastrzemski accomplished the feat in 1967.

Cabrera leads the AL with a .365 batting average, .043 higher than second-place Mike Trout of the Los Angeles Angels. Cabrera has a slim lead in the RBI race with 95, two more than Chris Davis. He trails Davis in the home run race 37-30.

One thing in Cabrera’s favor: The Tigers have played two fewer games than the Orioles. However, Cabrera has hit more than 37 home runs only twice in his career. He hit 38 in 2010 and the 44 last year.

Can Davis keep up home run pace?

Until last year, Chris Davis was considered more likely to lead the majors in strikeouts than home runs. He had a career-high 21 homers in his second year in the majors in 2009 with the Rangers, but then he had one home run in 2010 and a combined five in 2011 with the Rangers and Orioles.

In a more cynical, post-Mitchell Report era, Davis raised plenty of eyebrows last year with a career-high 33 home runs over 139 games with the Orioles. This year, he has 37 home runs and 93 RBIs over 95 games.

It will be interesting to see just how far Davis exceeds his previous career high and if he can hold off Miguel Cabrera in the home run race and overtake him in the RBI race.

What’s next with Biogenesis scandal?

Some of baseball’s biggest names, including Alex Rodriguez and Ryan Braun, have already been tied to the Biogenesis anti-aging clinic, which has been accused of dealing performance-enhancing drugs.

Commissioner Bud Selig claims the leaks aren’t coming from his side, and union officials say they deplore the leaks. Whatever the case, baseball appears intent on punishing the players if it can prove they used PEDs.

Baseball fans and many players are eagerly and, in some cases, anxiously waiting to find out just how much dirt MLB has uncovered from Biogenesis.

Are Phils sellers? Whither Garza?

The next 10 days will be crucial for the Philadelphia Phillies, who are 48-48 at the All-Star break and 61/2 games behind the Braves in the NL East.

With the likes of closer Jonathan Papelbon, ace Cliff Lee and second baseman Chase Utley, the Phillies have premium pieces that can help them rebuild for the future with top prospects from other organizations.

The Cubs reportedly are interested in re-signing Matt Garza, but some in baseball view him as the top starter on the trade market. The Cubs’ 2013 season is lost, and they’re not likely to contend for a couple of years, so trading Garza for top prospects seems reasonable.

Have opponents figured out Puig?

Rookie Cuban outfielder Yasiel Puig had an amazing first calendar month in the majors, batting .436 with 44 hits, seven home runs and 16 RBIs in 26 games to captivate Dodgers fans and irritate opponents.

As folks throughout baseball debated whether he was worthy of earning an All-Star nod, his stats were more modest in the two weeks before the All-Star break. He had only one home run and three RBIs in his final 12 games before the break.

It wasn’t fair to expect him to keep up his torrid pace, but it will be interesting to see if he can adjust to the adjustments opponents have made and will continue to make.